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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
Sport
David Byrom

'We're trying to sabotage our own season' - The opposition view as Bristol City overcome West Brom in thrilling game

Bristol City fans are probably only just recovering from last night's five-goal thriller.

The Robins raced into a three-goal lead but West Bromwich Albion grabbed two goals to set up an exciting climax.

City saw the game out to bolster their play-off hopes and haul the Baggies to within touching distance.

Here's what the opposition made of the game.

Jack Hunt of Bristol City celebrates his goal (Nizaam Jones/JMP)

The manager's view

Jimmy Shan told Birmingham Live that the opening 20 minutes were 'horrific'.

"If you’re going through the five games, we’ve won three, there were elements of performances that needed improving.

"Sometimes results paper over the cracks, we work diligently over the cracks.

"The performance against Millwall wasn’t good enough. We were outfought and weren’t dominant with the ball.

'You call me Streaky Johnson but I’ll take streaks like that' - Bristol City post-West Brom transcript  

"We had 20 minutes when we were horrific, we allowed Bristol City to dominate us and have intention.

"After that, they still had some moments, but we limited them. Second half we were in total control, the moments they created, were from our lapses in concentration and we opened the back door. The Dasilva chance is an example of that.

"I’m not concerned sat here right now in the direction of performances. If we had performed poorly, maybe, but the boys reacted and responded second half."

Analysis - 'More managerial expertise is needed'

An extract from Paul Suart's report on Birmingham Live

Spirited West Brom saw their brave fightback fall short in a five-goal thriller at Ashton Gate.

Second-half goals from Dwight Gayle and Jay Rodriguez reduced the arrears.

But they couldn’t quite repair the damage of a disastrous opening 20 minutes that saw Albion concede three times as The Robins ran riot.

Two defeats in the space of four days must surely convince the Baggies board that more managerial expertise is needed if Albion are to enter the play-offs with momentum - and a chance of coming through them.

The seed for initial catastrophe was sewn when West Brom fell behind inside two minutes.

Josh Brownhill drilled past a hapless Sam Johnstone after Jake Livermore was guilty of over-playing.

The second goal soon arrived. Brownhill headed back across goal after his long throw was only cleared back to him.

Andi Weimann got between defenders to stud the ball past Johnstone. And it was 3-0 within the blink of an eye.

'Just want Jay Dasilva to tuck me into bed' - Bristol City fans are all talking about one man after West Brom performance  

Jay Dasiliva had all the time to send in a looping cross to the far post for Jack Hunt to squeeze in a header between keeper and post.

As Albion unravelled on the pitch, tension grew on the terraces with chants of ‘sack the board’ clearly audible from the away end.

There was some respite when Max O’Leary tipped over an Edwards free-kick before blocking a Gayle volley at close-range.

Normal service resumed as Johnstone saved from Marlon Pack, Eliasson and Nathan Baker to give his team a glimmer of hope at the break.

Shan switched to three at the back and there was an immediate dividend as Gayle flicked in Johansen’s free-kick.

Conor Townsend glanced a header over as Albion continued a fight back that would have been rendered meaningless had Dasilva’s shot not struck a post and rebounded to safety.

No sooner had Gayle gone close to a second, Rodriguez was on hand to fire home at close range to set up a nervy last 15 minutes for the hosts.

Albion pushed for an equaliser. Kieran Gibbs forced O’Leary into a save in injury time, but there was to be no late reprieve.

The fans

@baggies2510: "WBA team is in chaos , no shape just shabby play , needs managing not even a captain to take control Heads Gone."

@JoeCrabbJourno: "I genuinely can’t understand WBA. Like, are we genuinely trying to sabotage our own season? No clue. No direction. No chance."

Baggieblue: "Complete shambles and embarrassment it’s time for the fans to show how they feel about the way club is being run vote with your feet Saturday."

@Inidanasprings: "Shan show ends here... and please end the Jenkins show with it. Clueless top to bottom."

@Saminsley: "This is the level of bad karma we deserve for sacking Moore. Our season is over. I’m done. "

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